Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

December 7, 1029 Motion Picture N ezvs 19 R-K-0 Reviving National Vaudeville b Chain; Now Lining Up Forty Weeks In Bankers' Hands The inter-related banking interests behind RKO and Pathe are held accountable for reports current that a merger between the two organizations is on the way. Expansion plans of RKO in the theatre field will make it necessary for its producing affiliations eventually to step up production output to 60 pictures annually. Pathe, therefore, may figure in on this basis. However, if a deal is made — at the moment there appears to be nothing to it — it will be a bankers' merger rather than a picture merger. In other words, the companies would remain as they are with the banking interests dictating a policy to which both organizations would necessarily subscribe. Kennedy To Model Pathe After U. A. (Hollywood Bureau, Motion Picture News) Hollywood. — A completely reorganized Pathe, producing a limited number of pictures yearly and built along the lines of United Artists is the plan of Joseph P. Kennedy who has, in the short period of time he has been in Hollywood from New York, practically revamped the entire studio organization. Quality, in the place of quantity, seems to be the new Kennedy formula. Indications of the new order are seen in the intention to produce only ten pictures in the next six months, each to be made on a big scale in order to compete with other major companies in bids for first runs. In the interim, the cleaning out process continues. Options on players, directors and writers are not being taken up, except in a few cases which include William Boyd, Eddie Quillan, Ina Claire, Constance Bennett, Harry Bannister, Ann Harding, Helen Twelvetrees and Fred Scott. The only directors to remain are Paul Stein and Tay Garnett, and the present writing staff is being discarded completely. Although Kennedy refuses to confirm it, others are to be dropped very shortly, these reported to include William Sistrom, Ralph Block and William Conselman, producers; Carl Hovey, head of the story department; George Berthelon, production manager and others. Benjamin Glazer has joined Pathe and may produce two of the ten specials now proposed, although the deal is not yet set. There is no intimation as to who will produce the balance nor who will assume charge of the studio after the first of the year. Edwin Carewe, however, may he the producer in charge. He has. just signed with Kennedy to make a series of specials, the first to be a remake of Rex Beach's "The 'Intact Vaudeville" The Neiv Idea For Combination Houses — 20 Weeks In Eastern And Western Routes A national chain of vaudeville theatres is the latest development at RKO. "Intact vaudeville," composed of five act units, is being developed. One unit will start from New York and work its way through to Chicago, and another from the coast which will terminate its bookings in the Middle West. RKO has only three theatres which play big time vaudeville exclusively. These are the Palace and Riverside, New York Spoilers" for which rights were closed yesterday. Carewe admits his arrangement with Kennedy, says he will work at Pathe, but refuses to talk about distribution. He does, on the other hand, discount reports that he will assume charge of Pathe production. Kennedy has Gloria Swanson under contract, yet releases through United Artists. An outside release for the Carewe series may be planned. Kennedy, it is known, wanted to keep Alan Hale, Robert Armstrong and a selected list on a six months' contract, but the suggestion was turned down enmasse. Hale, it is understood, is negotiating with two major companies and will probably sign with one of them momentarily. Leo MeCarey may switch to Paramount. The deal is being discussed and may go over because of McCarey's record with Pathe. Ina Clair who signed a two picture contract has made one, "The Awful Truth" for which she received $75,000. The second, which nets her $100,000, is yet to be made. Delehanty Promoted Thos. S. Delahanty, formerly asst. secy, and asst. treas. of Pathe International Corp., has been appointed vice-president and general manager of that corporation, succeeding J. Frank Shea, who has resigned. Benet Signed by "D. W." To Write Lincoln Script Stephen Vincent Benet, who won the Pulitzer prize for 1929 for authorship of "John Brown's Body," will write the script for "Abraham Lincoln." D. W. Griffith who was in New York lining up talent, and Benet are en route to Hollywood. Hollywood. — Although no contracts have been signed, it is believed Walter Huston is the only remaining candidate for the title role of "Abraham Lincoln." Norma Shearer's Plans Include "High Road' Part Hollywood. — Norma Shearer will temporarily retire after a visit of the stork late this mouth. She will appear in "The High Road" for M-G-M early in 1930. Allen Joins Cruze Hollywood. — E. H. Allen, general manager of Educational studios, has been appointed to a similar post with James Cruze, Inc. and the Palace, Chicago. Its other theatres operate on a combination picture and vaudeville policy and it is for this group that "intact vaudeville" is being designed. Both the eastern and western routes will offer twenty weeks. Each house will be charged on a pro rata scale and every fourth week will be held open to permit holding over pictures which may prove worthy of a second week. The plan will be elastic enough to permit each house to fill in its own headliners. The expansion in the vaudeville idea will supplement the twenty houses now operated by RKO exclusively for extended run pictures. RKO House Slated For Philadelphia Philadelphia. — ■ A 2,500 seater, with stores, is planned by RKO for the northwest corner of 20th and Market. Philadelphia is a Warner and Fox stronghold and, in the opinion of many local film men, is already overseated in the downtown district. Lake Gets 5 Year Contract Arthur Lake has signed a contract for five years with RKO. The contract becomes effective Feb. 1. In the meantime, the RKO theatres are trying to arrange for Lake to do a vaudeville act with his sister, Florence Lake who was in a number of Fox productions and who is with her brother in New York. "Blaze O'Glory" Looks Geared For Box-Office San Bernardino, Cal. — "Blaze O' Glory," sneaked into a local theatre for an unheralded preview, will be called hokum by many, but hokum notwithstanding it will bring them in and will please. This combination of a war story and a murder trial affords Eddie Dowling. Betty Compson, Frankie Darro and Henry B. Walthall ample opportunities to win their audience. They play them to the hilt. Dowling and Frankie, the boy who did such clever work in "The Rainbow Man" are splendid. Renaud Hoffman's direction of an involved story is noteworthy. "Blaze O' Glory" may be tabbed as far-better-than-average box-office material MEYERS